RED WING TRADITION -- Hoboken quarterback Dante Bass hopes to continue a fine gridiron tradition going as he leads the Red Wings against Dunellen in the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 2, Group I semifinals. A win and the Red Wings are headed to MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands.

North Bergen resident Ino Gomez, a native of Cuba who was a basketball player at Memorial High School with the likes of Jackie Gilloon and Rep. Albio Sires, has received a great gig.

Gomez, who has worked at Spanish-speaking radio station WADO-AM 1280 as a sports reporter for years, is now the Spanish-translation analyst voice for Brooklyn Nets games. Gomez will do as many as 50 Nets games for WADO this season…

The Peacocks of the newly-named St. Peter’s University have enjoyed a solid start to the college basketball season, having already defeated Rutgers at the RAC and Cornell up in Ithaca.

But John Dunne’s Peacocks suffered a puzzling loss to Fairleigh Dickinson Wednesday night, dropping their second straight game in-state, after falling to Seton Hall last Sunday.

FDU won all of two games all of last season, so this setback almost defeats the great early season wins at Rutgers and Cornell.

To Dunne’s credit, this is a very young Peacock roster, with only two players still on the squad from the team that won the MAAC title and went to the NCAA Tournament in miraculous fashion two years ago.

But it’s mind boggling how the same team could beat Rutgers and Cornell, two standout teams in the preseason, then turn around and lose to teams like Binghamton (ravaged by an NCAA investigation) and now FDU…

The St. Michael’s of Union City CYO program held a basketball clinic last weekend that featured Fordham head coach Tom Pecora as a guest speaker. Rutgers assistant Josh Loeffler, the former head coach at Stevens Tech, was also a speaker. More than 100 kids attended, with each camper receiving a backpack and a T-shirt, and more than 25 brand new basketballs were distributed…

Secaucus’ fine cross country season to remember ended last Saturday, when two Patriot runners did well at the Foot Locker Northeast Regional meet at Van Cortland Park in the Bronx.

Sondy Polanco finished 15th in the freshman boys’ race in 18:37, while Matt Olive, a senior, was 17th in the senior boys’ event in 18:14. Both Patriot runners received medals for their impressive showing…

Condolences to the family of local attorney Terry Ridley, who died Thanksgiving Day. Ridley was the cousin of embattled Lincoln head football coach Robert Hampton and was representing Hampton, who was charged with hindering prosecution and obstruction of justice in an alleged sexual assault case involving a male and a female student, who both were football players at the time of the alleged assault.

Now Hampton’s case gets a little bit harder, but on a personal note, Ridley and Hampton were close relatives and Ridley served as an inspiration to his younger cousin. It’s a big loss for their families…

Former North Bergen High School standout pitcher Damien Seguen, who had a brief stint in the minor leagues with the Philadelphia Phillies and spent part of last season pitching for the Newark Bears, will turn his attention pitching Down Under.

Seguen has accepted an invitation to play in the Australian Baseball League (ABL) and will play there this season. Seguen will also serve as an alternate for the Australian National baseball team that will participate in the upcoming World Baseball Classic in March…

And now, what you’ve all been waiting for – the latest installment of the Great Hagueini’s pigskin prognostications.

In the first round of the state playoffs two weeks ago, Hagueini went an outstanding 8-2, so maybe the old wide one can recapture some of that magic.

And remember, don’t use these picks for any wagering purposes, unless it’s for a tuna melt on rye and a Mountain Dew Red with your uncle Looie.

Dunellen at Hoboken, North 2, Group I: Dunellen did a good job of dismantling and demoralizing Weehawken two weeks ago, but the Red Wings are a different breed of cat, especially with Donte Carter (five TDs in the win over Dayton Regional) now carrying the bacon like another of the long litany of Red Wing great backs and QB Dante Bass making all the right plays, running and throwing. On to MetLife. Hoboken 28, Dunellen 14.

Union City at Bloomfield, North 1, Group V: Can this be the year that the Soaring Eagles soar on to the Meadowlands? While Union City’s win over North Bergen two weeks ago was solid, this is a Bloomfield team that has as many as eight college prospects on its roster. Neither school has ever made it past this round, but Bloomfield has the edge. Bloomfield 21, Union City 14.

Hudson Catholic at St. Joseph (Hammonton), Non-Public Group 1: The surprising Hawks have opened a lot of eyes just getting this far, but this is totally uncharted waters for Lou Zampella and his squad. St. Joseph hasn’t won an astounding 21 state titles for nothing. St. Joseph 35, Hudson Catholic 0.

St. Anthony at St. Mary (Rutherford), Non-Public Group 1: Again, this is another case of David against Goliath, although it’s hard to think of St. Anthony of being an underdog with all the state and national basketball championships the school has won. But the Gaels have the better football tradition and they win here. St. Mary 35, St. Anthony 12.

St. Peter’s Prep at Paramus Catholic, Non-Public Group 4: It’s hard to think of the mighty Marauders as being an underdog in this matchup, but they have to be considered such, with the Paladins having the state’s overall best player in Jabrill Peppers. If the Marauders can force a few turnovers, then this game is winnable. Without at least three, the Marauders’ lost season ends in a loss. Paramus Catholic 28, St. Peter’s Prep 21.